The 8 best sex positions while pregnant

Clearly you know how to have sex with your partner. But a lot of changes that happen in your body during pregnancy can likely make some of your go-to sex positions more challenging than before. This doesn’t mean your sex life has to take a backseat during the last few months of pregnancy, though: There are plenty of sex positions while pregnant during the third trimester that feel comfortable and offer a great time.

“Sex during pregnancy can be an extraordinary experience,” says Jess O’Reilly, PhD, creator of the Sex with Dr. Jess podcast. “Changes in hormone levels during pregnancy can actually boost your libido, and though orgasm may be slightly more elusive during the first trimester, many women report experiencing more intense climaxes during the second.”

Communication is key, says Jessica Shepherd, MD, an assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology and director of Minimally Invasive Gynecology at The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago. She recommends having an open, ongoing discussion about what works for you and what doesn’t as your pregnancy progresses. “If something doesn’t feel good, it’s important to speak up,” she says. Likewise, if it feels amazing, you’ll also want your partner to know so that they can keep doing it.

If you are experiencing a healthy pregnancy, there aren’t really any sex positions during pregnancy that are considered off-limits, but doctors generally advise that you avoid lying flat on your back (i.e., in missionary) after about 20 weeks or so, Shepherd says, since this position can interfere with blood flow to the placenta. Otherwise, you should go with whatever pregnant sex positions feel good.

THE BEST SEX POSITIONS WHILE PREGNANT

Spoon
Lie down on your side and have your partner curl up next to your back, entering you from behind. “Spooning may be the best third trimester position of all,” says licensed marriage and sex therapist Kat Van Kirk, PhD. “It’s comfortable, no one has to exert themselves too much, and deep penetration is difficult to achieve, which is good for your cervix if it’s sensitive.” Spooning also keeps pressure off of your belly (and bladder), O’Reilly points out, and leaves your hands free to rub your clitoris for extra stimulation.

Side by side
Lie down facing your partner and have him move his leg over yours (legs can be straight or bent at the knee) and enter you from an angle. This position “allows for variation in speed and depth,” says Rachel Needle, PsyD, a sex therapist and licensed psychologist at the Center for Marital and Sexual Health of South Florida. “It is also great because it doesn’t require a lot of energy.” Another perk: Side by side is one of those sex positions during pregnancy that allow for extra intimacy because you and your partner can look in each other’s eyes during the act, O’Reilly points out.